How to Know When It s Time to Call a Drain Expert to Unblock Your Drain

May 26, 2024
Patrick James

Living with a blocked drain can be an absolute nightmare. The unpleasant odour and potential health risks it poses can be readily handled by professionals. But how do you know when it’s time to call in these pros – the drain experts?

Contents

Identifying Drain Blockage Signs
Reasons Behind Drain Obstructions
Effective Drain Clearing Strategies
Home Remedies: Vinegar and Baking Soda
Another Approach: Salt and Baking Soda
Using Boiling Water for Unblocking
Employing a Snake for Drainage
1. Wire Hanger Use for Dislodging
2. Selecting Supermarket Products for Aid
3. Why Hire Professional Drain Services
4. Preferable Tools for Drain Unclogging
5. Alternative: Contacting Local Plumbers
Conclusion: Choose Wisely,

Identifying Drain Blockage Signs

Experiencing slow draining water is one of the most evident signs of a blocked drain. It is usually accompanied by water pooling around the shower bases and weakening of flush power.

Bubbling noises coming from your drain is another sign of blockage. These noises are produced by air pockets forming due to the clogging matter. In particularly severe cases, foul smells can start emanating from your drains, indicating rotting materials lodged within.

Statistics note: A survey indicated that 23% of homeowners have dealt with a major water leak or a blocked drainage system. This percentage indicates just how common this unpleasant problem can be.

Reasons Behind Drain Obstructions

Understanding what causes drain obstructions can prevent them from reoccurring. Fat and grease buildups account for about 21% of sewer backups. These elements congeal and trap debris, creating stubborn obstructions. Foreign objects flushed down the toilet can also cause an obstruction to form.

In addition, bathroom drains get blocked due to hair and solid soap residues, which constitute about 47% of all indoor drain blockages. Leaves and roots can also function as obstructions once they get trapped in the exterior system.

Households with older plumbing systems, 30 years or more, experience drain problems 50% more often than those with newer systems. Therefore, regular maintenance is crucial to prevent chronic drain problems.

Effective Drain Clearing Strategies

There are several methods you can aim for at home before calling a professional plumber from organisations like the Master Plumbers Australia. Plunger use remains the most common technique employed by many homeowners. A plunger can effectively dislodge an obstruction and facilitate water flow.

However, on average, it takes a professional plumber between 1-2 hours to unclog a drain. If after numerous attempts at using a plunger the problem persists, there may be a more significant matter that requires expert assistance.

Home Remedies: Vinegar and Baking Soda

Beyond plungers, there are some handy solutions you can whip up at home. Vinegar and baking soda have been hailed as the dynamic duo for drain unblocking within the realm of homemade solutions. Baking soda (a base in chemistry) reacts with vinegar (an acid) to produce sodium acetate, water, and carbon dioxide (making them fit in with our topics of Chemical compounds).

Pour half a cup of baking soda into the drain followed by an equivalent amount of vinegar. Wait for 20 minutes and then run hot water down the drain to disintegrate any remaining material.

Another Approach: Salt and Baking Soda

A variation of the aforementioned method involves salt and baking soda. Mixed together in equal parts and poured down the blocked drain, these two can produce significant results. Follow up with boiling water after approximately 15 minutes, and you may achieve a clear drain.

Using Boiling Water for Unblocking

Sometimes, the solution to a blocked drain can indeed be as simple as using boiling water. The heat can cause grease to liquefy or break down other materials causing the blockage allowing water to flow freely again. However, remember to exercise extreme caution when handling boiling water as it can lead to serious injuries if mishandled.

Employing a Snake for Drainage

The snake tool, which is used extensively by professional plumbers worldwide, is an exceptional device. This flexible rod pushed down the drain can help displace any blockages disrupting your system.

It’s important to note that the use of the drainage snake requires some skill for effectiveness. Therefore, if you don’t have experience with such tools or are not confident in using them, it might be better to leave this task to professionals.

Remember, if all these attempts prove fruitless or if you do not feel comfortable conducting these experiments yourself, calling in a professional shouldn’t be a last resort but rather your best bet at resolving these issues both safely and efficiently. No obstruction is worth risking your safety.

1. Wire Hanger Use for Dislodging

Have you ever been frustrated by a stubbornly clogged drain in your home? If you’re nodding in agreement, join the club. The average Aussie household encounters at least one or two drain clogs each year. And guess what? An ingenious way to tackle this issue lies lurking in your wardrobe – a wire clothes hanger.

Hold on, hold on! You may think we’ve lost our marbles, but hear us out. Straighten out the hanger, leaving just a hooked end intact. This improvised tool can often help dislodge the troublesome clumps clogging your drain. But be careful not to jam it too hard and potentially damage your pipes.

Using this method can be quite efficient, particularly with frequent buildup issues in bathroom drains which account for almost half of all indoor blockages. But remember to proceed with caution or you could cause more harm than good!

However, as functional as a wire hanger might be, it’s not always enough in older households. Properties with 30 years old or more plumbing systems are known to wrestle with drain problems 50% more often than those with newer systems.

2. Selecting Supermarket Products for Aid

Naturally, if the hanger trick isn’t up to scratch, you might need some reinforcements from the supermarket shelf. This is where everyday household items like vinegar and sodium bicarbonate come into play.

Fancy a bit of chemistry? Supermarket products like these can create a powerful chemical reaction that cuts through most clogs. The mix of acetic acid from vinegar and the base substance of sodium bicarbonate results in an effervescent action helpful for obstructions.

The method is pretty straightforward: Pour roughly a cup of sodium bicarbonate, followed by an equal amount of vinegar or slightly more. Wait 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing with boiling water for the best results. It’s useful in most cases, especially when 70% of kitchen sinks get jammed due to food particles and grease.

However, in scenarios requiring more aggressive action, you might want to opt for stronger chemical substances like Liquid-Plumr or other supermarket drain cleaner alternatives. Always remember to observe safety measures when handling these products!

3. Why Hire Professional Drain Services

If all else fails, it’s time to lay our ego aside and hire professional drain services. Around 78% of plumbing service calls are related to clogs or blockages. There is a reason for it – professionals bring in their expertise and appropriate tools to fix even the trickiest drain issues.

What’s more, approximately 21% of sewer backups are caused by fat and grease buildups. These can be problematic and damaging to the drainage system if not handled appropriately. An expert plumber comes into their own here.

Things get even worse when a significant leak blocks your drainage system – a bitter experience that 23% of homeowners have faced. The good news though is that on average, a professional plumber takes around 1-2 hours to unclog a drain.

So if your home drainage has been acting up continuously, getting a plumber could be quite the smart move – no one wants their abode turning into Australia’s next great swimming venue!

4. Preferable Tools for Drain Unclogging

We’ve all taken a shot at unclogging drains with any available gear around the house, but real success lies in using scientifically designed tools dedicated to this purpose.

For instance, a drain snake, also known as a plumber’s snake, is a flexible auger that dislodges clogs in plumbing. Similarly, a closet auger is highly efficient in loosening blocked toilets. There are also various plungers – flange, cup or toilet – that effectively solve different types of blockages.

If these manual options are too labour-intensive for your liking, you may want to consider water jetting devices. These utilise high-pressure water jets to dissolve and dislodge stubborn blockages. However, just like ARM & HAMMER baking soda and vinegar, you’ll need to know when to use them and if it’s safe for your plumbing system.

Of course, every tool has its ideal use case and is not meant for all problems. It’s essential to first understand the nature of the blockage and then select the right tool to solve it.

5. Alternative: Contacting Local Plumbers

When you’ve tried everything but the drain continues to rebel, turning to local plumbers is the most sensible decision. A seasoned plumber has years of field experience paired with unmatched knowledge about the country’s residential plumbing systems.

Whether it’s an old house with frequent problems or a modern dwelling dealing with an annual clog, local plumbers are well-equipped with materials and tools based on Australian standards to fix your issue effectively.

We cannot stress enough that drains are more complex than they risk seeming! Hence, we advocate turning over these tasks to professionals instead of being caught up in an endless loop of DIY drain unclogging attempts.

Also, please remember many plumbers offer 24/7 emergency service, so don’t hesitate to call one even at odd hours. After all, there’s no telling when a drainage crisis might arise!

Conclusion: Choose Wisely,

While you now have a good grasp on the various DIY methods to tackle a clogged drain, remember that each situation is unique. The tool you select or the approach you follow must tie into the specific nature of your blockage. Despite all efforts, there will be times when even our best attempts will fall short. When that happens, for the sake of your drains and sanity, don’t hesitate to call in the professionals! Keep your drainage system happy and healthy with Dan’s Plumbing – we’re always here to lend a hand.

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Patrick James

The Blog Team at Dan's Plumbing
Dan’s Plumbing is a leading name in emergency plumbing across Australia. We ensure prompt and effective plumbing solutions for residents across Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and the Gold Coast.